For the second edition of Art Macao, the large-scale international cultural and artistic event held in the city biennially, a special exhibition under the theme of Illusions and Reflections – Through the Eyes of the Masters is being held at Wynn Palace and Wynn Macau from July to October 31. The Abode of Illusions: The Garden of Zhang Daqian features a collection of art work recently returned to China after nearly 40 years, while Life Reflection: Contemporary Ceramics of Zhu Legeng presents a number of impressive ceramic installations, including two made specially for Macau. Both exhibits are deeply inspired by nature and life and present artworks imbued with vigor and vitality that will have a profound impact on local residents and visitors as they explore these stunning pieces.
The Abode of Illusions: The Garden of Zhang Daqian is a unique collaboration between master of Chinese painting Zhang Daqian and photographer Hu Chongxian. Zhang Daqian was one of the best-known and most prolific Chinese artists of the twentieth century. Zhang met Hu Chongxian in Taipei and collaborated on many artworks in his later years, inviting him to take photographs of the landscapes at his residence the Abode of Illusions, most especially lotus and plum blossoms.
For the first time in four decades, the collection is returning to China and making its public debut in Macau. The exhibit features Hu’s photographs of Zhang’s meticulous garden designs, and each image features poetic inscriptions written by Zhang.
The third great master represented at Wynn’s Illusions and Reflections, is ceramicist Zhu Legeng, whose exhibition Life Reflection: Contemporary Ceramics of Zhu Legeng showcases a series of groundbreaking and spirited works, which he made and exhibited during official visits with national leaders. Zhu infuses his understandings of nature and life into his ceramic artistry, which when displayed among stylish urban architecture, connect audiences to nature, innovative thoughts, and dreamlike spaces. Starting from traditional Chinese ceramic art, Zhu uses a range of pottery expression techniques. The variety of styles in his works has made Zhu representative of “the most Chinese and the most wordly” of Chinese artists. In the past ten years, his exploration of the relationship between ceramic art and constructed urban environments has created a unqiue modern language for Chinese ceramic art, and has earned him the right to speak for Chinese ceramic art in the world.
For Wynn’s contribution to this year’s Art Macao, Zhu has created to original masterpieces especially for the city. In Harmony. Lotus. Rhyme (2021) Zhu presents a magnificent ten-meter work comprising three hundred ceramic stemmed lotuses. The localized, nationalistic, and humanistic expression echoes the city’s prominence as a “treasure land of lotuses”, and celebrates her spirits of harmony, virtue, and unity.
A second new piece, also made exclusively for Macau, is Mirroring of Lotus (2021). A dialog between contemporary ceramic art and Wynn Palace’s architectural space, the well-placed elegant white lotuses unhurriedly blossom above the exhibition floor, rendering Macau’s boundless vigor. The mirrors installed around the exhibition area reflect the images of lotuses, conjuring up visual and imaginary reveries for meditations on life.
Other impressive works by Zhu Legeng, including Box of Life (2019), are displayed at the Wynn Art Center near South entrance at Wynn Palace, while The Chinese Ox Series (2015) can be viewed at Wynn Macau. The rest of the art pieces are presented at the brand-new Wynn Art Gallery near the North entrance at Wynn Palace.
The viewing experience at the exhibition venues is also enhanced by a digital tour guide feature. Visitors can simply scan the QR code to listen to the audio tour and watch infomercials to discover more about the masterpieces, and even take fun interactive selfies with the art pieces to post on social media.
Art Macao is a unique opportunity to be immersed in traditional culture and innovative expressions of beauty in the city over the coming months, so be sure to visit both Wynn Palace and Wynn Macau for the chance to enjoy and appreciate these magnificent works by three true Chinese artistic masters.
